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Sergei Rachmaninov, Piano. A collection of recordings (some electrical, some acoustic) made between 1920 and 1942. This collection of encores and miniatures comes from RCA Camden CDN-1022 issued in 1959. Restored from that LP. Topics: Rachmaninov, Piano Source: 78

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Great Scott! Hazel Scott (1920-1981) piano and vocals. Released in 1948 as a 78 set, this album was re-released in 1950 as an LP. It is not currently available on CD. Ms. Scott holds the distinction of being the first African-American to host her own TV show. It was on the Dumont Television Network in 1950. She also appeared in films in the 1940's. Transferred and restored from the original Columbia 78 set C-159. Restoration by Bob Varney. Topics: Scott, piano, vocals, Columbia

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Paderewski Plays Chopin. Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941), piano. Recorded in the early 1920's, when Paderewski was about 60 years old, the sound quality is far beyond the acoustic recording techniques of the day. His performance was captured on an Aeolian Company "DUO-ART" reproducing piano. Unlike a basic "player piano", the DUO-ART was capable of a recording that duplicated the actual performance with all dynamics and nuances intact. This recording was made in the early... Topics: Paderewski, piano, DUO-ART

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Grainger Plays Grainger - Percy Grainger (1882-1961), piano. Recorded in the early 1920's, when Grainger was about 40 years old, the sound quality is far beyond the acoustic recording techniques of the day. His performance was captured on an Aeolian Company "DUO-ART" reproducing piano. Unlike a basic "player piano", the DUO-ART was capable of a recording that duplicated the actual performance with all dynamics and nuances intact. This recording was made in the early 1960's... Topics: Grainger, piano, DUO-ART

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Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op.13 by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). Sviatoslav Richter, piano with the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Benjamin Britten. Recorded in London in 1971. Transfer from the original London stereo LP CS 6723 by Bob Varney. Topics: Richter, Britten, Piano, Concerto

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Play It Again, Erroll! Erroll Garner (1923-1977), piano. Accompanying performers are not listed. This is a two-record compilation of studio recordings by Garner issued by Columbia in 1975. Transfer from the Columbia mono set PG 33424 by Bob Varney. Topics: Garner, piano, jazz

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Best of Garner. Erroll Garner, piano. A compilation disc of works by this fine jazz pianist. No information is given on when and where these tracks were recorded. Issued in 1963. A little note if you are a Michigan native: a tiny tag in the upper corner on the back of the record jacket indicates that it was purchased at the Hudson's store in downtown Detroit. Transfer from the original mono Mercury LP MG 20803 by Bob Varney. Topics: Garner, piano, jazz, Mercury

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Ives Plays Ives. Record four from the five record set "Charles Ives the 100th Anniversary" issued by Columbia Masterworks in 1974. These solo piano recordings were made in London and New York City in 1933, 1938 and 1943. The quality of the recordings varies considerably. Some of these pieces were being recorded (and issued here) for the first time. Transfer from the Columbia Masterworks stereo set M4 32504 by Bob Varney. Topics: Ives, piano, Columbia

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Piano Music of Chopin. Maryla Jonas (1911-1959), piano. This artist experienced tragedy and loss in WW II enough to end any career. Artur Rubinstein took her under his wing and in February 1946 she debuted in Carnegie Hall. This Columbia recording comes from the same year. Transferred and restored from the original Columbia Masterworks 78 set M-626. Transfer by Bob Varney. Topics: Piano, Chopin, Jonas, Columbia

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Piano Recital. Josef Hofmann, piano. A collection of Duo-Art piano roll recordings by Hofmann made beginning in 1918. The Duo-Art recording and playback technique allowed the original performance to be heard nearly exactly as it was played. You could say it was the first method for high fidelity recording. Hofmann made approximately 60 of these piano rolls. Transfer from the Distinguished Recordings LP DR 105. Recorded circa 1960; the piano used for playback is not noted. Transfer by Bob Varney. Topics: Piano, Hofmann, Duo-Art

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Concerto for Piano & Orchestra (1936) by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978). William Kapell, piano with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Serge Koussevitsky conducting. Kapell (1922-1953) died tragically in a plane crash returning from an Australian tour. At the time, he was already recognized as perhaps the greatest American-born pianist. Recorded in 1946. Transferred and restored by Bob Varney from the original RCA Red Seal 78 set DM1084. Topics: Kapell, Koussevitsky, Khachaturian, Piano, Concerto

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Minuet in G, Op. 14, No. 1 by Ignace Jan Paderewski (1860-1941). Performed by the composer. This is an acoustic recording. The recording date was May 23, 1917. Transfer from the original Victrola 12" single sided 78 #74533 by Bob Varney. Topics: Paderewski, Minuet, piano, acoustic, 78

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Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19. William Kapell (1922-1953), piano with Vladimir Golschmann conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra Recorded June 24, 1946. Originally issued as a 78 set, but this transfer from RCA Victor mono LP LM-9026. Kapell died tragically in a plane crash returning from an Australian tour. At the time, he was already recognized as perhaps the greatest American-born pianist. Transfer from LP by Bob Varney. Topics: Beethoven, Piano Concerto, Kapell, Golschmann

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Maurice Ravel Plays Ravel. Maurice Ravel, piano. The fidelity of this recording derives from the Duo-Art piano recording mechanism which allowed for capture and playback of the actual performance with all its nuances. Recorded circa 1925 and played back on a Steinway Duo-Art piano for this 1966 Everest recording. Everest Stereo X-912. Transfer by Bob Varney. ( 1 reviews ) Topics: Ravel, piano, Everest, Duo-Art

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Golden Anniversary Album. Ignace Paderewski, piano. Issued to mark the 50th anniversary of Paderewski's first Carnegie Hall concert (November 17, 1891), it also coincided with his death in June, 1941. Apparently, Victor sent the five record set out to stores with only four records; the buyer could make the fifth record their choice from other Paderewski recordings. In my set, the wild card record was the Beethoven/Paderewski. Probably a common choice as it was a best seller for him. The dates... Topics: Paderewski, piano, anniversary, Carnegie, 78

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Prelude in G minor, Op.23, No.5 by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). Performed by the composer. Recorded May 17, 1920 in Camden, New Jersey. An acoustic recording. Transferred from the original 12" single-sided disc by Bob Varney. Topics: Prelude, piano, Rachmaninoff, 78, Victor

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Piano Concerto #1 in G-Minor, Op. 25 by Felix Mendelssohn. Jose Iturbi (1895-1980) pianist and conductor with the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra. Nearly forgotten now, this Spaniard was a conductor, pianist and actor. (Anchors Aweigh - 1945 and 6 other films.) His film career unfairly diminished his standing as a classical artist, but his recording career extended well into the LP era. Recorded in 1953. Transferred and restored by Bob Varney from the RCA LP LM-1734. Topics: Piano, Concerto, Mendelssohn, Iturbi, RCA

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Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881). William Kapell (1922-1953) piano. Recorded July 21, 1953 in Australia at the Melbourne Town Hall. The recording was not made commercially, but rather by an amateur music lover named Roy Preston who recorded the performance to acetate discs. His work only came to light in 2003. Kapell died tragically in a plane crash returning from this Australian tour. At the time, he was already recognized as perhaps the greatest American-born... Topics: Mussorgsky, Pictures, Exhibition, Kapell, Piano

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Lyric Pieces by Edvard Grieg. Walter Gieseking, piano. Recorded in September, 1956 in mono. Gieseking recorded 31 of the 66 Lyric Pieces in two volumes for Angel Records. Volume One is presented here. These works were composed between 1867 and 1901. Recorded from the original mono LP Angel 35450 by Bob Varney. Topics: Lyric, Gieseking, Grieg, piano, Pieces, Grieg, Gieseking

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Piano Concerto #4 in C Minor, Op. 44 by Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921). Robert Casadesus, piano with the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York conducted by Artur Rodzinski. Recorded October 29, 1944. An ad in the March 25, 1946 issue of Life magazine priced this recording at $3.50. That's the equivalent of $40.86 in 2012. Transferred and restored from the original Columbia Masterworks set MM 566. Transfer by Bob Varney. Topics: Piano, Concerto, Saint-Saens, Casadesus, Rodzinski

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Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op.44 by Robert Schumann. The Busch String Quartet with Rudolf Serkin, piano. Recorded May 22, 1942 at the Liederkranz Hall in New York City. Transfer from the original Columbia Masterworks 78rpm set M-533. Transferred by Bob Varney. Topics: Piano, Quintet, Busch, Serkin, Columbia, 78 Source: 78

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Double Piano Concerto in E-flat, Op.10, K.365. Mozart. Artur Schnabel and Karl Ulrich Schnabel, piano with the LSO conducted by Sir Adrian Boult. One of the 20th Century greats teams up with his son for this wonderful recording. Recorded in London on October 28, 1936 at EMI's Abbey Road Studios. Transferred and restored from the original RCA Victor set DM 484. Transfer by Bob Varney.favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews ) Topics: Schnabel, Boult, Mozart, Piano, RCA, Victor, 78

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The Music of Ernesto Lecuona. Piano compositions by Ernesto Lecuona (1895-1963). The First Piano Quartet: Adam Garner, Vladimir Padwa, Frank Mittler and Edward Edson. Active from 1941 until 1972, the quartet made many recordings, performed numerous concerts and even received an Academy Award nomination in 1954 for a movie short in which they appeared: "The First Piano Quartette". This recording dates from 1948. Transfer from the original RCA Victor 78 set CO 41 by Bob Varney. Topics: Lecuona, piano, quartet, Garner, Padwa, Mittler, Edson, 78